In the devastating wake of Hurricane Melissa, the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) has demonstrated extraordinary resilience by maintaining its essential services for vulnerable adolescent mothers. Despite severe infrastructure damage across multiple parishes, the foundation received crucial support from both partner organizations and former beneficiaries—embodying the 2024 International Women’s Day theme ‘Give to Gain’ through powerful displays of mutual aid during crisis.
Established to address Jamaica’s persistently high teenage pregnancy rates, the WCJF provides continuing education and support for pregnant girls under 19 who are excluded from the regular school system. The hurricane inflicted substantial damage to facilities in Savanna-la-Mar, Santa Cruz, Montego Bay, St Ann’s Bay, Morant Bay, and Junction. The Savanna-la-Mar centre suffered critical roof displacement, Santa Cruz lost its water storage tanks, Montego Bay’s pre-school roof was partially torn away, and multiple locations experienced structural collapses and security breaches.
Executive Director Novlette Howell emphasized that despite these physical damages, the foundation’s primary concern remained its human resources—both the staff and beneficiaries. Through coordinated efforts with the Jamaican Government, WCJF personnel distributed care packages and financial assistance to affected women and girls in the hardest-hit parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and St James.
The foundation secured significant overseas donor grants, distributing amounts ranging from $20,000 to $210,000 to 22 staff members for various recovery needs including roof repairs, structural rebuilding, and complete home replacements. Additionally, WCJF centers served as temporary shelter for both staff and beneficiaries displaced by the hurricane.
A particularly inspiring aspect of the recovery effort emerged from the foundation’s alumni network. Former beneficiaries across the globe—now working as police inspectors, teachers, nurses, and business owners—mobilized support through material donations and mentorship. Howell noted that barrels of supplies from past students were delivered to the Savannah-la-Mar centre, demonstrating the powerful cycle of empowerment that defines the organization’s mission.
The WCJF maintains long-term commitment to its beneficiaries, providing ongoing counseling through university and professional integration via mentorship programs. This sustained support system exemplifies how investing in women creates ripple effects that strengthen entire communities, transforming personal achievement into collective advancement—the very essence of ‘Give to Gain’ in practice.